DEATH AND DYING

Amendments

Commission on Native Children: establish (S. 246), S3381 [1JN]

Federal agencies and departments: provide access to and use of information by Federal agencies in order to reduce improper payments (S. 614), S6083, S6084 [28JY]

Taxation: repeal estate and generation-skipping taxes (H.R. 1105), consideration (H. Res. 200), H2229 [15AP]

Announcements

Moment of silence for victims killed in the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion, S2262 [20AP]

Bills and resolutions

AID: implement policies to end preventable maternal, newborn, and child deaths globally (see S. 1911), S6187 [30JY] (see H.R. 3706), H6892 [7OC]

Armed Forces: clarify situations in which the U.S. will cover the cost of transportation for next of kin to attend the transfer ceremony of a member who dies overseas (see H.R. 2662), H3913 [4JN]

——— conduct outreach to families of members who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in other conflicts (see H. Con. Res. 5), H155 [8JA]

——— equalize treatment under the Survivor Benefit Plan accorded Reserve component members who die from injury or illness incurred during inactive duty training with members who die on active duty (see H.R. 2053), H2496 [28AP]

——— provide for forgiveness of certain overpayments of retired pay paid to deceased retired members following their death (see H.R. 454), H479 [21JA]

——— provide permanent appropriations for death gratuities and related survivor benefits for survivors of deceased members in the event of lapsed appropriations (see H.R. 250), H188 [9JA]

——— require U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of members who die in the line of duty (see H.R. 3914), H7624 [3NO]

Capital punishment: provide additional aggravating factors for the imposition of the death penalty relative to killing law enforcement officers or first responders (see S. 2034), S6651 [15SE] (see H.R. 814), H866 [9FE]

Capitol Building and Grounds: authorizing use of Grounds for Fallen Firefighters Congressional Flag Presentation Ceremony (see H. Con. Res. 61), H5117 [13JY] (see H. Con. Res. 73), H5847 [8SE]

——— authorizing use of Grounds for National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service and for National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition (see H. Con. Res. 25), H1803 [19MR]

Commission on Native Children: establish (see S. 246), S420 [22JA] (see H.R. 2751), H4343 [12JN]

Copyrights: clarify definition of ‘‘widow’’ and ‘‘widower’’ to ensure protection for same-sex couples relative to passage of copyright rights to next of kin upon the death of a copyright holder (see S. 23), S11 [6JA] (see H.R. 238), H187 [9JA]

Credit: establish requirements for treatment of a private education loan upon the death or bankruptcy of a cosigner of the loans (see H.R. 2542), H3560 [21MY]

——— prohibit private educational lenders from requiring accelerated repayment of private education loans upon the death or disability of the cosigner of the loan (see H.R. 3450), H5847 [8SE]

——— provide for the discharge of student loan obligations upon the death of the student borrower (see S. 1384), S3060 [19MY]

Dept. of Defense: require death benefits to be paid to a deceased employee’s designated beneficiary or next of kin in the case of death resulting from a war-risk hazard or act of terrorism (see S. 2374), S8494 [8DE] (see H.R. 312), H357 [13JA]

Dept. of HHS: increase number of permanent faculty in palliative care at allopathic and osteopathic health care professional schools, and other programs, and promote education in palliative care and hospice (see H.R. 3119), H5329 [21JY]

——— require States and their designees receiving grants for suicide early intervention and prevention strategies to consult with Indian tribes and organizations (see H.R. 3166), H5402 [22JY]

——— revise and extend programs to support planning, implementation, and evaluation of organized activities involving statewide youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies (see S. 1299), S2794 [12MY] (see H.R. 938), H1034 [12FE]

Dept. of Justice: include court security officers in the public safety officers’ death benefits program (see S. 1108), S2472 [28AP]

——— issue rules pertaining to collection and compilation of data on the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers (see H.R. 306), H357 [13JA]

——— provide death benefits for police officers serving private institutions of higher education and rail carriers (see S. 962), S2220 [15AP]

Dept. of Transportation: make grants to assist units of local government in developing and implementing Vision Zero plans, to eliminate transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries (see H.R. 1274), H1611 [4MR]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: clarify period of eligibility during which certain spouses are entitled to assistance under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (see H.R. 2531), H3560 [21MY]

——— clarify that the estate of a deceased veteran may receive certain accrued benefits upon the death of the veteran (see H.R. 1569), H1899 [24MR]

——— enhance treatment of small businesses owned by veterans after the death of disabled veteran owners for purposes of contracting goals and preferences (see S. 296), S590 [28JA] (see H.R. 1313), H1612 [4MR]

——— ensure informing of interment of unclaimed deceased veterans to follow up on pending burials in order to prevent extended burial waiting times (see H.R. 3278), H5762 [29JY]

——— expand eligibility for a medallion furnished to signify veteran status of a deceased individual (see H.R. 1380), H1661 [16MR]

——— furnish headstones and markers for graves of dependents of veterans buried in county, private, or other cemeteries (see H.R. 2573), H3574 [22MY]

——— furnish headstones or markers to commemorate eligible individuals whose remains are identified and available but the location of the gravesite is unknown (see H.R. 3789), H7089 [21OC]

——— give priority for new national cemeteries to States without a national cemetery or areas with large veteran populations (see H.R. 2706), H4001 [9JN]

——— provide for payment of temporary compensation to a surviving spouse of a veteran upon the death of the veteran (see S. 241), S420 [22JA]

Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs: provide behavioral health readiness services to certain members of the Selected Reserves based on need and expand eligibility to such members for readjustment counseling (see S. 832), S1708 [23MR]

Drugs: increase Federal oversight of prescription opioid treatment and assistance to States in reducing opioid abuse, diversion, and deaths (see S. 1431), S3237 [21MY]

——— reduce deaths occurring from overdoses (see S. 1654), S4544 [23JN] (see H.R. 2850), H4591 [23JN]

Family and Medical Leave Act: allow leave because of the death of a son or daughter (see S. 1302), S2794 [12MY] (see H.R. 2260), H2876 [12MY]

FDA: reform program allowing for expanded access to certain experimental treatments or breakthrough drugs for seriously ill patients (see H.R. 909), H1032 [12FE]

Federal agencies and departments: modify the Do Not Pay Initiative and improve detection, prevention, and recovery of improper payments to deceased individuals (see S. 1073), S2400 [23AP] (see H.R. 2003), H2463 [23AP]

——— provide access to and use of information by Federal agencies in order to reduce improper payments (see S. 614), S1201 [27FE] (see H.R. 2320), H3211 [14MY]

Federal employees: provide that fathers of certain permanently disabled or deceased veterans shall be included with mothers of such veterans as preference eligibles for treatment in civil service (see S. 136), S100 [8JA] (see H.R. 1222), H1566 [3MR]

Federal firefighters: establish presumptive disability benefits for certain diseases and disabilities (see H.R. 1035), H1113 [24FE]

Flag—U.S.: provide Capitol-flown flags to the families of firefighters, law enforcement officers, members of rescue squads or ambulance crews, and public safety officers killed in the line of duty (see H.R. 723), H811 [4FE]

GAO: study feasibility of modifying waiting period for entitlement to Social Security disability benefits in cases of terminally ill beneficiaries (see H.R. 4110), H8411 [19NO]

Gold Star Wives Day: designate (see S. Res. 131), S2041 [26MR]

Gold Star Wives of America, Inc.: amend charter to remove certain restrictions (see S. 1366), S2971 [18MY] (see H.R. 4095), H8410 [19NO]

Health: authorize use of unapproved medical products by patients diagnosed with a terminal illness in accordance with State law (see H.R. 3012), H5029 [9JY]

——— promote awareness of organ donation and need to increase pool of available organs (see S. 1435), S3238 [21MY]

House Rules: require a reading of the names of Armed Forces members who died in the previous month as a result of combat operations (see H. Res. 24), H188 [9JA]

Law enforcement: require agencies to report the use of lethal force (see S. 2112), S7047 [30SE]

Law enforcement officers: provide for a hearing before a judge to determine whether there is probable cause for State criminal charges against an officer whose use of deadly force causes a death (see H.R. 429), H478 [21JA]

Medicare: encourage beneficiaries to voluntarily adopt advance directives guiding the medical care they receive (see S. 2297), S8079 [18NO] (see H.R. 4059), H8359 [18NO]

——— improve access to hospice care (see H.R. 3037), H5116 [13JY]

——— recognize attending physician assistants as attending physicians to serve hospice patients (see S. 1354), S2933 [14MY] (see H.R. 1202), H1525 [2MR]

——— strengthen and protect hospice programs (see H.R. 2208), H2791 [1MY]

Members of Congress: prohibit payment of death gratuities to the surviving heirs of deceased Members (see H.R. 3758), H6980 [16OC]

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: carry out a collaborative research effort to prevent drunken driving injuries and fatalities (see S. 1703), S4648 [25JN] (see H.R. 3044), H5117 [13JY]

National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: support goals and ideals and commend Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs for raising awareness of life-saving resources available to veterans and servicemembers (see H. Res. 443), H6260 [25SE]

National Teachers Hall of Fame: designate a National Memorial to Fallen Educators (see S. 2061), S6849 [21SE]

Occupational Safety and Health Act: expand coverage, increase protections for whistleblowers and penalties for violators, disclose safety violations, and clarify employer’s duty to provide a safe worksite (see S. 1112), S2473 [28AP] (see H.R. 2090), H2652 [29AP]

Peace Corps: allow former volunteers to use the seal, emblem, or name of Peace Corps on death announcements and grave stones (see H.R. 267), H188 [9JA]

Pharmaceuticals: allow manufacture, importation, distribution, and sale of investigational drugs and devices intended for use by terminally ill patients (see H.R. 790), H854 [5FE]

Political campaigns: permit candidates for Federal office to designate an individual authorized to disburse funds from the candidate’s campaign committees in the event of the death of the candidate (see H.R. 149), H41 [6JA]

Public safety officers: expand benefits to families of officers who suffer fatal climate-related injuries in the line of duty (see S. 1321), S2849 [13MY]

Social Security: eliminate waiting period for disability insurance benefits for terminally ill individuals (see H.R. 2585), H3641 [1JN]

——— enhance benefits for children, divorced spouses, and widows and widowers (see S. 2293), S8020 [17NO]

——— increase maximum amount of the lump-sum death benefit (see H.R. 1109), H1368 [26FE]

——— provide for a phased-in payment of disability insurance benefits during the waiting period for individuals with a terminal illness (see S. 2010), S6532 [9SE]

——— provide for full benefits for disabled widows and widowers without regard to age under the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program (see H.R. 2781), H4382 [15JN]

——— provide for increases in widow’s and widower’s insurance benefits by reason of delayed retirement under the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program (see H.R. 2782), H4382 [15JN]

——— repeal seven-year restriction on eligibility for widow’s and widower’s insurance benefits based on disability under the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program (see H.R. 2779), H4382 [15JN]

Sports: conduct a study on the causes of deaths related to high school football and formulate recommendations to prevent such deaths (see H.R. 3986), H8151 [5NO]

Taxation: allow an annual elective surcharge in lieu of estate tax (see H.R. 3508), H5980 [15SE]

——— exclude from gross income the discharge of certain student loans of deceased or disabled veterans (see H.R. 1581), H1899 [24MR]

——— exclude from gross income the discharge of indebtedness income on student loans of deceased veterans (see H.R. 2874), H4650 [24JN]

——— reform estate and gift taxes (see H.R. 1544), H1848 [23MR]

——— reinstate estate and generation-skipping taxes, reduce estate value exemption level, include a billionaire’s surtax, tax dynasty trusts, and protect farmland and conservation easements (see S. 1677), S4648 [25JN] (see H.R. 2907), H4769 [25JN]

——— repeal estate and generation-skipping taxes (see S. 860), S1891 [25MR] (see H.R. 1105), H1368 [26FE]

——— repeal estate and generation-skipping taxes (H.R. 1105), consideration (see H. Res. 200), H2208 [14AP]

——— repeal estate and gift taxes (see H.R. 173), H42 [6JA] (see H.R. 186), H103 [7JA]

——— repeal estate tax and retain stepped-up basis at death (see H.R. 725), H811 [4FE]

Transportation Security Administration: provide for the eligibility of employees to receive public safety officers’ death benefits (see H.R. 3523), H6074 [16SE]

Essays

Congressional Youth Advisory Council Project: Yussra Hamid, E472 [13AP]

Last Days of My Grandfather, Winston S. Churchill: Celia Sandys, H514 [22JA]

Lists

Houston, TX, law enforcement officers memorialized on the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Wall of Honor, H2335 [21AP]

Indiana law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty during 2014, H2969 [14MY]

Texas law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty during 2014, H2881 [13MY]

Motions

Taxation: repeal estate and generation-skipping taxes (H.R. 1105), H2285 [16AP]

Poems

‘‘To Those I Love,’’, S5710 [26JY]

Remarks in House

Armed Forces: study possible causes for suicides by female servicemembers and veterans, H4076 [10JN]

Biloxi, MS: anniversary of Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Homes, E843 [4JN]

Capitol Building and Grounds: authorizing use of Grounds for Fallen Firefighters Congressional Flag Presentation Ceremony (H. Con. Res. 73), H5806 [8SE]

——— authorizing use of Grounds for National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service and for National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition (H. Con. Res. 25), H2333–H2335 [21AP]

Carroll, Bonnie: Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, E1684 [1DE], E1743 [9DE]

Chicago, IL: anniversary of Zarzycki Manor Chapels, E1587 [4NO]

Chisholm, Shirley: Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, H8873 [2DE]

Clark-Williams Funeral Home, Inc.: tribute, E728 [15MY]

Dept. of Defense: require victims of attack at Fort Hood, TX, and their families be accorded the same treatment, benefits, and honors accorded to September, 11, 2001, terrorist attack victims and families, H8145 [5NO]

——— suicide prevention program funding through reductions in operations and maintenance accounts funding, H4061 [10JN]

Dept. of Justice: issue rules pertaining to collection and compilation of data on the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers (H.R. 306), E698 [13MY]

Dept. of Transportation: make grants to assist units of local government in developing and implementing Vision Zero plans, to eliminate transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries, H7597 [3NO]

——— make grants to assist units of local government in developing and implementing Vision Zero plans, to eliminate transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries (H.R. 1274), E314 [6MR]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: clarify that the estate of a deceased veteran may receive certain accrued benefits upon the death of the veteran, H5515–H5517 [27JY]

——— enhance treatment of small businesses owned by veterans after the death of disabled veteran owners for purposes of contracting goals and preferences (H.R. 1313), H3260, H3261, H3293 [18MY]

——— furnish headstones or markers to commemorate eligible individuals whose remains are identified and available but the location of the gravesite is unknown (H.R. 3789), H7167 [23OC]

Drugs: reduce deaths occurring from overdoses (H.R. 2850), E964 [24JN]

El Salvador: anniversary of kidnapping and murder of Catholic missionaries, H8867 [2DE]

FDA: reform program allowing for expanded access to certain experimental treatments or breakthrough drugs for seriously ill patients, H4980 [9JY]

Federal agencies and departments: provide access to and use of information by Federal agencies in order to reduce improper payments (S. 614), H9018–H9021 [7DE]

Federal employees: provide that fathers of certain permanently disabled or deceased veterans shall be included with mothers of such veterans as preference eligibles for treatment in civil service (S. 136), H6267, H6268 [28SE], H6717 [30SE]

Flag—U.S.: provide Capitol-flown flags to the families of firefighters, law enforcement officers, members of rescue squads or ambulance crews, and public safety officers killed in the line of duty (H.R. 723), H2856, H2857 [12MY]

Gold Star Mother’s Day: observance, H6717 [30SE], E1314 [17SE]

Houston, TX: anniversary of deaths of firefighters killed in hotel fire, H3632 [1JN]

Law enforcement officers: provide for a hearing before a judge to determine whether there is probable cause for State criminal charges against an officer whose use of deadly force causes a death (H.R. 429), H461 [21JA], H2118 [13AP], H2666 [30AP], H3501–H3504 [20MY], H8230 [16NO], E169 [5FE], E535 [21AP], E951 [23JN], E1077 [16JY], E1575 [3NO]

Medicare/Medicaid: provide coverage of voluntary advance care planning consultation, H108 [8JA], H739 [3FE], H4959 [9JY]

National Peace Officers Memorial Day: observance, H3237 [15MY], E720 [15MY]

National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: observance, H6214–H6222 [24SE]

——— support goals and ideals and commend Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs for raising awareness of life-saving resources available to veterans and servicemembers, H6256 [25SE]

Riemann Family Funeral Homes (business): opening of Jackson County, MS, location, E489 [14AP]

Social Security: eliminate waiting period for disability insurance benefits for terminally ill individuals (H.R. 2585), H3881 [4JN]

Taxation: exclude from gross income the discharge of certain student loans of deceased or disabled veterans (H.R. 1581), H1856 [24MR]

——— prohibit individuals convicted of certain tax fraud from benefiting from a repeal of estate and generation-skipping taxes, H2285 [16AP]

——— repeal estate and generation-skipping taxes (H.R. 1105), H2163, H2200, H2201 [14AP], H2220 [15AP], H2274, H2275–H2286 [16AP], H2322 [21AP], H5760 [29JY], H8348 [18NO], E529 [20AP], E585 [27AP]

——— repeal estate and generation-skipping taxes (H.R. 1105), consideration (H. Res. 200), H2223–H2230 [15AP]

——— repeal estate and generation-skipping taxes (H.R. 1105), motion to recommit, H2285 [16AP]

Transportation Security Administration: provide for the eligibility of employees to receive public safety officers’ death benefits (H.R. 3523), H5991 [16SE]

Remarks in Senate

AID: implement policies to end preventable maternal, newborn, and child deaths globally (S. 1911), S6190, S6191 [30JY]

Armed Forces: equalize treatment under the Survivor Benefit Plan accorded Reserve component members who die from injury or illness incurred during inactive duty training with members who die on active duty (H.R. 2053), S3201 [21MY]

Biloxi, MS: anniversary of Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Homes, S3453 [2JN]

Capital punishment: abolish under Federal law, S7621 [29OC]

Capitol Building and Grounds: authorizing use of Grounds for Fallen Firefighters Congressional Flag Presentation Ceremony (H. Con. Res. 73), S6765 [16SE]

——— authorizing use of Grounds for National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service and for National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition (H. Con. Res. 25), S2417 [23AP]

Carroll, Bonnie: Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, S8150 [19NO], S8238 [1DE]

Cleveland, OH: tribute to Hospice of the Western Reserve, S7293 [19OC]

Commission on Native Children: establish (S. 246), S422 [22JA], S3381–S3385 [1JN]

Copyrights: clarify definition of ‘‘widow’’ and ‘‘widower’’ to ensure protection for same-sex couples relative to passage of copyright rights to next of kin upon the death of a copyright holder (S. 23), S12 [6JA]

Dept. of Defense: require death benefits to be paid to a deceased employee’s designated beneficiary or next of kin in the case of death resulting from a war-risk hazard or act of terrorism (S. 2374), S8498 [8DE]

Dept. of HHS: revise and extend programs to support planning, implementation, and evaluation of organized activities involving statewide youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies (S. 1299), S2797 [12MY]

Dept. of Justice: provide death benefits for police officers serving private institutions of higher education and rail carriers (S. 962), S2222 [15AP]

Drugs: reduce deaths occurring from overdoses (S. 1654), S4548 [23JN]

Federal agencies and departments: provide access to and use of information by Federal agencies in order to reduce improper payments (S. 614), S6084 [28JY]

Federal employees: provide that fathers of certain permanently disabled or deceased veterans shall be included with mothers of such veterans as preference eligibles for treatment in civil service (S. 136), S103 [8JA], S2763 [11MY]

Gold Star Wives Day: designate (S. Res. 131), S2139 [13AP]

Gulf of Mexico: tribute to victims killed in the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion, S2262 [20AP]

Little Rock, AR: tribute to veterans residing in Arkansas Hospice at CHI (Catholic Health Initiatives) St. Vincent Hospital, S8013 [17NO]

Medicare: improve access to curative care and hospice care, S6171 [30JY]

National Healthcare Decisions Day: observance, S2241 [16AP]

Occupational Safety and Health Act: expand coverage, increase protections for whistleblowers and penalties for violators, disclose safety violations, and clarify employer’s duty to provide a safe worksite (S. 1112), S2477, S2478 [28AP]

Senior citizens: ensure that end-of-life wishes are known and honored, S5154 [16JY]

SSA: prohibit the publishing of Social Security numbers of deceased individuals in the Death Master File, S1520 [16MR]

Taxation: establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to permanently repeal estate tax, S2000 [26MR]

Reports filed

Capitol Grounds Use for National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service and National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (House) (H. Con. Res. 25) (H. Rept. 114–87), H2318 [20AP]

Commission on Native Children Act: Committee on Indian Affairs (Senate) (S. 246) (S. Rept. 114–39), S2759 [11MY]

Consideration of H.R. 1105, Death Tax Repeal Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 200) (H. Rept. 114–74), H2208 [14AP]

Death Tax Repeal Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 1105) (H. Rept. 114–52), H2151 [13AP]

Federal Improper Payments Coordination Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. 614) (S. Rept. 114–86), S5210 [21JY]

——— Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (House) (H.R. 2320) (H. Rept. 114–299), H7026 [20OC]

Gold Star Fathers Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. 136) (S. Rept. 114–35), S2650 [5MY]

——— Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (House) (S. 136) (H. Rept. 114–263), H6177 [18SE]

Statements

Maternal Health and Late-Term Abortion—Abortion Poses Significant Risks to Maternal Health by 20 Weeks Gestation: Americans United for Life (organization), H2932 [13MY]

Texts of

H. Con. Res. 25, use of Capitol Grounds for National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service and for National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition, H2333 [21AP]

H. Con. Res. 73, use of Capitol Grounds for Fallen Firefighters Congressional Flag Presentation Ceremony, H5806 [8SE]

H. Res. 200, consideration of H.R. 622, State and Local Sales Tax Deduction Fairness Act, H.R. 1105, Death Tax Repeal Act, and H.R. 1195, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Advisory Boards Act, H2223 [15AP]

H.R. 723, Fallen Heroes Flag Act, H2856 [12MY]

H.R. 1105, Death Tax Repeal Act, H2275 [16AP]

H.R. 1313, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Relief Act, H3260 [18MY]

S. 23, Copyright and Marriage Equality Act, S13 [6JA]

S. 136, Gold Star Fathers Act, S103 [8JA], S2763 [11MY], H6267 [28SE]

S. 246, Commission on Native Children Act, S3381–S3383 [1JN]

S. 614, Federal Improper Payments Coordination Act, S6083 [28JY], H9018 [7DE]

S. 1108, Death Benefits for Court Security Officers Act, S2476 [28AP]

S. Res. 131, Gold Star Wives Day, S2056 [26MR]